Lasting solutions sought, problem persists in surrounding area

(ANSA) - Naples, January 4 - Naples is returning to
normality after months of toiling with a huge trash crisis, but
the Italian government was holding a meeting with local
officials Tuesday to find lasting solutions to a problem that
persists in the surrounding area.

The southern city has largely been cleared of rubbish piles
after the military were sent in to lend a hand during the
Christmas holidays and other regions agreed to take some of it
to ease the emergency.
But thousands of tonnes of refuse still lie uncollected on
streets in the province of Naples and the situation is
especially bad in the towns of Melito, Casalnuovo, Giugliano,
Pozzuoli and Quarto.

Cabinet Undersecretary Gianni Letta was due to meet Naples
Mayor Rosa Russo Iervolino and other local representatives to
establish the way forward.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who won kudos inside and
outside Italy for resolving a similar crisis shortly after
coming to power in 2008, has blamed local authorities for the
crisis running on for so long.

He has said the local councils have not kept commitments to
open new landfill sites and construct new incinerators.

The authorities are facing stronger hostility to dumps many
believe are toxic than they did two years ago in the Naples
area, which has had waste-disposal problems for many years.

Plans to open some new dumps in the area have been shelved
after violent clashes with local residents.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, however, said he was
optimistic after meeting Iervolino and Campania governor Stefano
Caldoro and speaking on the telephone to Province of Naples
President Luigi Cesaro on Monday.

''These three institutions have reached common positions on
managing the refuse emergency and strategies to put the rubbish
processing system up to speed,'' Napolitano said Tuesday.

''It seems to me that there's a highly constructive climate
that gives us grounds to be hopeful''.
A European Commission delegation scolded Italy after a
visit to Naples in November, saying the situation did not appear
to have improved compared to two years ago and that plans for
rubbish processing and recycling were inadequate.